Explosive compound.



Patented June 28, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. HALL, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK.

EXPLOSIVE ooMPouNn.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,666 dated June 28, 1904.

' Application filed se inar 5,1903. Serial No. 172,132. on specimens.)

'To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES MARTIN HALL,

of Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and tttate of New York, have invented a new and useful Explosive Compound, of which the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention consists of an explosive compound composed of silicon combined with an oxidizing agent. When silicon, either pure or alloyed with other elements, is oxidized to silica, a very large amount of heat 15 evolved.

The best Way of utilizing this energy in an ammonium in suchproportions that one-third of the oxygen in the nitrate of ammonium will oxidize the silicon to silica, the remainder of the nitrate of ammonium being resolved by thecxplosion into free nitrogen and steam in equal volumes. Suitable proportions are fifteen per cent. of powdered silicon'and eightylive per cent. of nitrate of ammonium.

Instead of nitrate of ammonium other oxi dizing agents or mixtures of the same-as, for instance, chlorate of potash or picric aeidmay be used. If chlorate of potash is employed, it is well to use it in excess above the proportion required merely to oxidize the silicon, as in such cases a conslderable proportion of free oxygenis given ofl at a very high temperature.

The silicon which I use is best made by heating silica in excess with carbon in the electric 35 furnace or by heating carborundum in the I same Way with an excess of silica.

instead of using silicon I may use an alloy of silicon and iron or other heavy metal-as, for instance, an alloy containing fifty per cent. 4 of silicon and fifty per cent. of iron or sixty per cent. of silicon and forty per cent. of iron. Such alloys may be cheaply prepared and are readily pulverized.

In firing the mixture fulminating agents are 45 employed. v

The silicon which I used is unoxidized'% e., it is still capable of combining with oxygen and I do not claim the use of silica; which has been used as an inert carrier or absorbent for 5 nitroglycerin.

I claim An explosive compound containing silicon in an oxidizable condition and an oxidizing agent; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES, M. HALL. 

